Written by Jocelynn Goff
Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess for He who promised is faithful. And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. Let us not give up meeting together as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another and all the more as you see the Day approaching.
Hebrews 10:23-25
This scripture always brings to mind a particular Wednesday night. Before church I was speaking with a friend on the phone and then had occasion to speak with her on the phone afterward as well. In the after church conversation, she said that I sounded less tired and more energetic. She said that it must've been the fact that I had been to church and had gotten encouragement. I agreed with her totally. I had been with brothers and sisters who loved being in the Word and being together.
I didn't recognize the difference in myself until my friend pointed it out but it is one of the benefits of obeying the commands of our Lord to not forget meeting together and to encourage each other. Another benefit is the witness to others, like my neighbor. She was observing and could tell the difference. I wanted to be intentional in other ways about being a witness to her but didn't realize that when I ignored my fatigue in order to be obedient and go to church, and the evidence of the encouragement I received, was the message that came in loud and clear to her.
Her name was Jackie and I have many God stories about Jackie and our journey together as neighbors and later as sisters in Christ. Feel free to ask me sometime. :-) This is just one of them that always come to mind when I read Hebrews 10:23-25.
May you be encouraged as you are an obedient, intentional witness to yourself and to the world. The world is watching whether they tell you or not and they need this message!